Yoga Sutras and Contentment

What Do the Yoga Sutras Have to Say About
Santosha (Contentment)?
Everything you need is inside you.

2.42 From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction is obtained.
(santosha anuttamah sukha labhah)

santosha = contentment
anuttamah = unexcelled, extreme, supreme
sukha = pleasure, happiness, comfort, joy, satisfaction
labhah = is acquired, attained, gained
Santosha brings happiness and joy: From an attitude of contentment (santosha), unexcelled happiness, mental comfort, joy, and satisfaction is obtained.

Contentment comes from within: We humans seem to always be seeking satisfaction in the external world and our internal fantasies. Only when we comfortably accept what we currently have will be able to do the practices that lead to the highest realization.

SANTOSHA (Contentment)

I realized recently while washing dishes in my "step-saver" kitchen, that I am feeling a sense of contentment I have never felt. I'm living very simply, well within my means and have whittled my personal belongings down to very little.

It's quite liberating really. I will say that I got here kicking and screaming all the way. It's hard to let go of things of which we're fond.

I know that this is a feeling I should have had all my life. I have spent most of my life striving for more and bigger and better, and thought that if I was truly content with my current situation it would make me complacent.

Of course, that's not true. It's human nature to excel and explore the boundaries of what we're capable. What I've found instead is that I have more energy, and I'm more excited about life in general and my plans.

All of this simply because I've allowed myself to enjoy what Life has offered me so far.

Upcoming Events/Workshops

Here are a few things I hope you attend!

Teen Yoga:

Next start date: 1/10/10
Sunday 3:15PM-4:15PM
at Shakti Vinyasa Ballard
Phone: 206.297.9642

If you're interested, please pre-register, we need 10 students to continue the series.




Secrets of Backbending Workshop:

at Shakti Vinyasa Ballard
February 6, 2010
1PM-3:30PM

at Yogalife Greenlake
February 20, 2010
12:30PM-3PM

We will cover:
*basic spine anatomy
*purpose and benefits of backbending
*the critical contribution of hips and shoulders
*simple (but little known) tips to happier and deeper backbends




Yoga Basics Workshop:

Appropriate for ALL levels. Good alignment is critical, for both safety and rapid advancement of your practice, particularly when we are moving around quickly in a vinyasa class. Please make the time to attend this valuable class.

at Gold's Gym
Issaquah January 23, 2010 1-3PM
Redmond January 30, 2010 1-3PM
Bothell February 13, 2010 1-3PM

Expect to learn:
*proper alignment and fine tuning for a variety of foundation poses
*graceful transitions between poses
*basics of breath control techniques
*deep relaxation techniques